Blog

BUYER BEWARE – EVEN DURING A GLOBAL CRISIS

Even as the world contends with the ramifications of a global pandemic that claims new victims daily, companies want to make sure they’re doing what they can to protect and help their employees.

Unfortunately, though, deceptive marketing “snake oil salesmen” who rose to prominence during 18th-century trading are making a return, by trying to capitalize on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. A snake oil salesman used to peddle cure-all elixirs that could take care of any maladies for early American traders. The snake oil was a mineral oil mixed with household herbs, but it was billed as a panacea to cure gullible customers.

Fake Coronavirus Test Kits Are Being Sold To Companies in America

This past week, companies across the Bay State and nationwide began receiving email solicitations with subject lines of “CORONAVIRUS TESTS FOR SALE” in their inboxes. The problem? These so-called tests are the 2020 version of snake oil. They are neither accurate nor legitimate.

At the Edward Davis Company, we are already working with local businesses that have been targeted by these modern age scam artists. Naturally, companies want to do everything they can to protect their employees, so when an email offers COVID-19 tests at a bulk, cut-rate price, employers feel tempted to leap at the offer so they can provide for the well-being of their workforce. The email solicitations promise an expeditious delivery of as many tests as the employer wants.

FBI Warns Businesses On Fake COVID-19 Test Kits

The tests do NOT meet Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, and as a result, will likely yield false-positive results for a workforce believing the tests to be authentic. The FBI has warned of a significant spike in coronavirus on-line scams, most involving cybercriminals looking to exploit this health crisis for profit. In many cases, they are conducting phishing scams, looking, as always to gain access to your personal security information. Now, it appears cures, cleaning products, and tests for COVID-19 are the newest method to target the innocent.

The bottom line, as always, is to remain vigilant. Be wary of electronic correspondence claiming to prevent, treat, diagnose or cure COVID-19. Beware, also, of so-called sales companies offering products such as sanitizers, Personal Protective Equipment, masks or gloves.

In these increasingly trying times, don’t let your company be victimized further by falling for any of COVID-19 scams. For more information about our cyber-security services, please visit https://eddavisllc.com/cyber-security-services/